Why do Real Madrid want to get rid of Gareth Bale?

On July 20, 2019, Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane was asked about the Welsh winger Gareth Bale. The player has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernebeu, but nobody could’ve predicted how he’d dropped until Zidane’s response.

“He wasn’t included in the squad because the club is working on his departure and that’s why he didn’t play. We’ll have to see what happens in the coming days. We’ll have to see if it goes through tomorrow, if it does then all the better. Let’s hope, for everyone’s sake, that it happens soon. The club is dealing with the club that he’ll move to,” the French coach replied. Ouch.

And with this, Bale’s future at Real Madrid – or lack thereof - appears to have been shattered. But how did one of the world’s most expensive signings end up as makeweight?

Firstly, it’s been coming. Bale has been subjected to the infamous whistles and boos treatment from the fans for well over a season. When the crowds turn on you, it’s hard to return to favour in Spain. They see Bale as holding up the sexy football the rest of the squad is capable of. He’s also very expensive.

Cashing out

Through no fault of his own, Gareth Bale is on a mooted £350,000 (AED 1.6m) per week. That’s a very expensive substitute. And it seems Real Madrid, Zidane and the fans know very well that if they’re to make a big signing such as Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, they need poor Gareth to get out of there.

However, and this is where Bale has to take a bit of flack, he has reportedly told the powers that be that he will leave… so long as they pay up his remaining salary. That’s two and half years of cash, which amounts to around £43m (AED 197m). That a lot of money – no wonder he wants to stick around.

There’s an age-old debate raging from casual observers of the Bale situation, too. As a professional sportsperson shouldn’t he ditch the cash in favour of prolonging his career elsewhere? Is he just being greedy? But if you were expecting the money mentioned above, you’d no doubt have plans for your future with it. It’s complicated.

Final whistle

The words of Zinedine Zidane seem to be of a manager that’s exasperated by the whole ordeal. Though Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett has a different view on the matter and has labelled the Frenchman “a disgrace”. We obviously don’t know what’s going on behind the scenes, and Bale could be acting like a petulant child off camera. He rumoured to have shunned Spanish lessons, too, but even at face value, this Mexican stand-off is turning ugly.

A resolution will no doubt be found in the near future. Whether it’s a drop in wages to join one of Europe’s elite clubs or an equally big money move to China, the end is near. And with the fans, coach and president on his back, one thing is almost certain: there’s no turning back for Gareth Bale or Real Madrid now.